Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen nets hat trick, becomes first Finnish player with

Colorado Avalanche right winger Mikko Rantanen reached the 50-goal mark Thursday with a first-period goal against the San Jose Sharks, becoming the first Finnish player to reach the milestone since 1998. Here’s what you should know:

• Teemu Selanne (1997-98) was the last Finnish player to do so.
• Rantanen became the first Avalanche player to reach 50 goals since Milan Hejduk, who scored his 50th goal exactly 20 years ago Thursday.
• The 26-year-old buried a Nathan MacKinnon rebound for the milestone goal, sending it through Sharks goalie and fellow Finn Kaapo Kahkonen’s legs. He later scored two more goals to complete a hat trick.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Backstory

Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard grabbed the puck for Rantanen after he scored No. 50. Rantanen’s Colorado teammates knew the goal was coming: The star winger nearly scored his 50th goal Tuesday against the Sharks, but one of his shots hit the post.

“You’re going to think about it,” coach Jared Bednar said as Rantanen approached the 50-goal milestone. “It’s human nature.”

Only three other players have reached 50 goals this season: Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak and Leon Draisaitl. Rantanen scored a second and third time Thursday, giving him a league-leading 41 even-strength goals. Rantanen also has a career-high 98 points on the year, and his scoring prowess and playmaking ability has caught the attention of stars around the league.

“I like the way he plays,” Sidney Crosby said earlier this season. “Seeing how consistent he’s been over his career, it’s not easy. He came in as a pretty young player and has delivered on those expectations for a while.”

Rantanen reaching 52 goals comes on the heels of MacKinnon logging his 100th point of the season Tuesday. MacKinnon was the first Avalanche player to reach 100 since Joe Sakic in 2006-07, and Rantanen could join him if he adds two more points in the last five-plus games.

Selanne and Jari Kurri are the only other Finns to score 50 goals in a season. Hejduk and Sakic are the only other Avs to reach 50 since the team moved to Colorado ahead of the 1995-96 season.

Rantanen’s 50th goal

Required reading

(Photo: Kavin Mistry / NHLI via Getty Images)